The all-female Ghostbusters strap on Proton Packs, fight with ghouls and tear around New York in Ecto-1 in the first trailer for the reboot of the classic film.

The new version of the movie stars Bridemaids actresses Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig and Saturday Night Live comedians Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, replacing the original quartet of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

Ivan Reitman, who directed the original films, serves as a producer for the remake and hands over the directing reins to Paul Feig, who is responsible for female-starring comedies Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy.

Thor star Chris Hemsworth also appears in the trailer as the group's receptionist Kevin.

The trailer reveals that Wiig plays a particle physicist, McCarthy is an expert in the paranormal, McKinnon plays a nuclear engineer and Jones appears to take on the role of a subway employee who serves as a guide to the city.

Unveiling the trailer for the first time to an audience of Ghostbusters fans, Feig said: "It was really important to us to make them scientists. That's what I love about the first one, the idea of funny people fighting the paranormal with science."

Asked how they plan to address the controversy over the all-female cast, the director replied: "We don't. I just want the funniest people and the funniest people I happen to know are these women. It should never be about that. Ghostbusters are for everybody."

He added: "When I see pictures of young girls making Ghostbusters costumes it chokes me up, I just like the idea that a new generation will have their own that they will love as much as the original guys."

Reitman, who had been hoping to revive the franchise for years, said: "I've often talked about the moment I saw the original quartet walk down Madison Avenue the first time on the first day of shooting and there was a tingle in my back and I really got the same feeling when I saw these four women.

"There was no issue of gender, it was really 'Oh my god, there is something unique about these four together'."

Feig also revealed that the movie will include nods and references to the original films, as well as cameos from original cast members including Murray and Aykroyd.

He said: "When you see the movie there will be a lot of things that you will be happy to see but they will be coming at you in a different way."

He added: "Slimer makes an appearance - you can't do Ghostbusters without Slimer."

As for the famous theme song, Feig said: "You will hear the song; you can't do it without it. We are playing with the original and some new versions"